The Hobbit Trilogy Gets Titles and Release Dates

With a third film added to what will now be known as “The Hobbit Trilogy,” a title has been announced for the second film along with a release date for the third.

Since the announcement that The Hobbit will be three movies, there has been a ton of speculation as to what the titles would switch to, what the release dates would be and so forth. Now the answer is out there, and it just makes this whole decision that much more annoying in my view. Here is the release schedule:

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – December 14, 2012

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – December, 13, 2013

The Hobbit: There and Back Again – July 18, 2014

“The Desolation of Smaug?” Seriously? This is what you decided to name the second film? Are we now going to have a whole movie just about Smaug amassing his wealth?

Is Peter Jackson actually Smaug in another form? Because you know he has to be laughing about how much more money this is going to bring in from making a third theatrical run … an initial home video release … a collected home video release … an ultimate home video release.

I’m out.

There, I’ve said it, I’m out. I’ll watch them on HBO or something, but as for seeing them in the theater or buying them? I’m out. Jackson has gone where I felt no one else could and entered the pantheon with Lucas for being a money grubbing hack who is putting financies ahead of the story. Yes, I know he is adding from “the notes of Tolkein,” but lets face it, people have enjoyed The Hobbit, as is, for decades now, and somehow Jackson thinks he knows best?

And sadly, I know these are going to rake in the money. I just don’t grasp how people can’t see this for what it is.